Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

Great reviews, thanks alfarom!

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
― Isaac Asimov

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

I have a sampled on the way thanks to our beloved MikeP luring me into yet another CDG! He turned my on to Hinoki, which I'm grateful and this simply sounds like a winner. I can totally understand what he would mean he stated that its everything he wished amazingreen would be. I can picture this in my mind and can't wait for it to get in next week!

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

Ahhhhh, dreams shattered. I'll continue to test this. I has hoping for a bit darker and more prominent green, but alas this light light, airy, and very faint on the green. I get cedar with a supporting act from benzoin and guiac wood. I wonder if this contributes to the plastic vibe as others have mentioned, is present. So in a nutshell, it is a synthetic plastic note that encapsulates the cedar. I'm not sure I could wear this, but will test another time.

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

Reading all these reviews it sounds like SERPENTINE turned out to be more industrial, synthetic, plastic-y fragrance, than what it was described as before the launch:

"Serpentine draws its inspiration from the best fresh, green notes found in the natural beauty of London’s Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Christian Astuguevieille, creative director of Comme des Garçons Parfums says of the collaboration, “The Serpentine asked me to create a perfume that would be rooted in their geographical location in the middle of one of biggest parks in the middle of one of the biggest cities of the world. We worked on the concept of ‘Green and City’"

The descriptions from all of you above are far from the official CdG inspiration. Did it completely miss(represent) the mark? I'm not hearing anything about "the best fresh, green notes", "natural beauty of London's Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens", etc. It sounds more like synthetic, concrete, industrial wasteland - more like downtown LA, than Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens. What gives...?

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

Remik, thats an astute observation. Its not a horrible fragrance, but at the price point its offered, I was expecting something more representative of the description with time, attention, and quality thoroughly respected. For me, the fragrance doesn't parallel the official campaign. So, I was a bit shocked upon first sampling. There are other cedar fragrances I like more. There is that tinge of green musky freshness, but almost nonexistent. Anyone else have similar opinions? Should I approach this differently?

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

*Airy* is a good description for Serpentine and that's why I agree with Mike's parallel with Chanel's Bel Respiro. Personally I don't find it as heavy on the cedarwood as others say. At least not as heavy as several other CDGs can get on this note. I also get a blast of hyper-clean aldehydes that for several aspects reminded me of a twisted version of Estee Lauder's infamous White Linen. The *industrial / urban* part is a facet that shows up in many CDGs but here is represented in a different way. It supports the concept of an art gallery (hence the immaculate walls parallel) as opposed to the city smog / blocks of concrete of, say, CDG's own TAR. In this context, this is anything but downtown LA. More like an open space which is clean and aseptic than crowded and messy. The *green part* is provided both by green notes and the overall springy / summery vibe. It's not a literal / natural green but more like a chromatic nuance. Personally, I find Serpentine completely nailed as it perfectly conjure functionality and artistry without falling in *exercise-in-style* territories. A tremendous example of minimalism applied to fragrance if you ask me.

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

I can totally agree with the clean, open space imagery. I suppose it does celebrate minimalism. I think many would find this a summer joy to wear, but I still find this hard to purchase ($95/50ml). I like this one, but for a clean musk/aldehyde type of freshness, I still prefer Estee Lauder's Pleasures.

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

It is slowly becoming my new go-to 'green' scent. It's nice to be greeted with a green scent that shoves leaves and twigs right under your nose but that is also edgy and slightly weird. I've never smelled a green scent like that. It's also pleasing in hot weather. The aldehydes sort of smell 'cool'. Like conifer-flavored club soda water, if such a thing existed.

"When you become comfortable with uncertainty. infinite possibilities open up in your life"

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

Originally Posted by mikeperez23

It is slowly becoming my new go-to 'green' scent. It's nice to be greeted with a green scent that shoves leaves and twigs right under your nose but that is also edgy and slightly weird. I've never smelled a green scent like that. It's also pleasing in hot weather. The aldehydes sort of smell 'cool'. Like conifer-flavored club soda water, if such a thing existed.

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

I have to revisit this one. I haven't properly worn it since I got it, but it reminded me of walking to Bishops Park on a misty August morning when I was staying in London some years back. It's very green with a hint of urbanity.

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

I am wearing this one as I write this. To me it is indeed very fresh and airy/ozonic foremost with a very nicely done mild cedarwood base. The composition smells considerably synthetic up top in particular (as one might expect from CdG), but in this case that was the obvious intent and it completely works. I find Serpentine extremely easy to wear, and very well-done. It is not particularly avant-garde like some in the line, but that won't stop me from buying it...

Re: Comme Des Garcons - SERPENTINE - A New Fragrance

I agree drseid. I'm not sure if the obvious front-loaded synthetic top notes are simply better blended or if my nose has all of a sudden gotten used to these types of notes in CdG scents. Maybe a bit of both.

It's clearly easier to wear than say...Tar or Skai.

"When you become comfortable with uncertainty. infinite possibilities open up in your life"